Wheel carriage assembly for guided asymmetric fabric deployment

ABSTRACT

Wheel carriage assemblies and related fabric deployment systems and methods are disclosed. A wheel carriage assembly comprising at least one wheel with ball bearings on the interior of each wheel, and a pivot point that allows for position independence, is configured with a hembar coupled to a piece of fabric to allow a surface of varying shape to be covered. The system provides the ability to cover both traditional window shapes as well as surfaces of irregular shape or inclined orientation, and reduces and evens the amount of wear on certain components to extend system life.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of, U.S. Ser. No. 15/600,359 filed May 19, 2017 entitled “WHEELCARRIAGE ASSEMBLY FOR GUIDED ASYMMETRIC FABRIC DEPLOYMENT,” which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to fabric deployment systems, and moreparticularly, to flexible wheel carriage assemblies suitable for guidinghembars.

BACKGROUND

Wheel carriage assemblies are typically used to facilitate movement of(and/or guide in three-dimensional space) items such as pieces of fabricor other flexible material, panels, louvers, doors, and so forth. Forexample, a wheel carriage assembly may be utilized to move pieces offabric along a guide track to cover a specific area. In a window rollershade application, a wheel carriage assembly often couples to a hembarwhich may be coupled to a piece of fabric. In response to the hembarmoving in a direction, the wheel carriage assembly moves as well,allowing the fabric to move and cover the desired area. However, thearea that is desired to be covered may not be of a uniform shape, andmay be positioned at an angle or different angles with respect tohorizontal and vertical planes in a particular three-dimensional space.For example, a covering may be utilized for a triangular window or asemi-circular window over a doorway, or a window that is a truncatedtriangle and is both sloping and tilted (i.e., where the top and bottomare not in the same plane, and the sidewalls are not in parallel).

In prior approaches, when a window shade having a hembar coupled to awheel carriage assembly at either end is pulled, the hembar at the endof the fabric may not move freely, its position dependent on theposition, sliding resistance, etc. of the various wheel carriageassemblies attached to the hembar. Additionally, the maneuvering of thehembar may place a large weight load on specific wheels contained withinthe wheel carriage assembly (for example, wheels closest to a hembarcoupling point). This imbalance of the load can cause particular wheelsin the wheel carriage assembly to wear at faster rate than theircounterparts.

Additionally, in various prior approaches, wheel connecting devices usedto connect the wheels to the rest of the wheel carriage assembly may beinserted through the center of the wheel. Without more, the wheelconnecting devices continually experience sliding friction and/orbinding while the wheel carriage assembly is pulled along the guidetrack. This type of friction is hard on the wheel carriage assembly,along the wheel connecting devices in particular, and can cause a highdegree of wear as well, especially in applications where the guide trackis not parallel to the direction of movement of the hembar and fabric.Accordingly, improved systems and methods for facilitating movement of ahembar are desirable.

SUMMARY

In an exemplary embodiment, a fabric deployment system comprises a guidetrack, a hembar coupled to a fabric, the hembar having an end, and awheel carriage assembly. The wheel carriage assembly comprises a wheeland a pivot point. The wheel contains ball bearings, the pivot pointremovably couples to the end of the hembar, and the hembar is configuredto move about the pivot point.

In another exemplary embodiment, a method of covering a surfacecomprises coupling a piece of fabric to a wheel carriage assembly via ahembar; and pulling the piece of fabric in a direction of desiredcoverage. The hembar has an end, the piece of fabric travels along aguide track, a wheel carriage assembly comprising a wheel and a pivotpoint freely moves within the guide track, the wheel contains ballbearings, the pivot point removably couples to the end of the hembar,and the hembar is configured to move about the pivot point.

In another exemplary embodiment, a wheel carriage assembly for use inconnection with a guide track comprises four wheels coupled to a wheelconnecting device; and a pivot point for pivotably coupling the wheelconnecting device to a hembar. Each of the four wheels contains ballbearings, the pivot point is located equidistant from the four wheels,and, responsive to movement of the wheel carriage assembly in the guidetrack, the four wheels remain in at least partial contact with theinterior of the guide track, regardless of the orientation of the guidetrack in three-dimensional space.

The contents of this summary section are intended as a simplifiedintroduction to the disclosure, and are not intended to be used to limitthe scope of any claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of principles of the present disclosuremay be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims whenconsidered in connection with the Figures, wherein like referencenumbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and where:

FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary fabric deployment system, in accordancewith various embodiments;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary flexible wheel carriage assemblycontained within a guide track, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary fabric deployment system utilizing aguide track, a hembar, and a wheel carriage assembly at either end ofthe hembar, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 1D illustrates a side view of the wheel carriage assembly of FIG.1C, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates components of an exemplary fabric deployment systemutilizing a wheel carriage assembly, a hembar, and a guide track, inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view, along section A-A from FIG. 2, of anexemplary guide track showing the wheel carriage assembly into which ahembar is inserted, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view, along section B-B from FIG. 3, of anexemplary guide track with a hembar coupled to a wheel carriage assemblyat a pivot point, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5A illustrates a view, along section C-C from FIG. 3, of exemplarywheels that contain ball bearings in the interior contacting a guidetrack, in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-section of portions of an exemplary fabricdeployment system with wheel connecting devices coupling wheels to awheel connector and a hembar coupled to the wheel carriage assembly at apivot point, in accordance with various embodiments.

It should be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that, whileprinciples of the present disclosure are described with reference to thefigures described above, such principles may also include a variety ofembodiments consistent with the description herein. It should also beunderstood that, where consistent with the description, there may beadditional components not shown in the system diagrams, and that suchcomponents may be arranged or ordered in different ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description shows embodiments by way of illustration,including the best mode. While these embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theprinciples of the present disclosure, it should be understood that otherembodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of principles of thepresent disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presentedfor purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example,the steps recited in any of the method descriptions may be executed inany order and are not limited to the order presented.

Moreover, for the sake of brevity, certain sub-components of individualcomponents and other aspects of the system may not be described indetail herein. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships or physical couplings may be present in apractical system. Such functional blocks may be realized by any numberof components configured to perform specified functions.

The disclosure includes a system that allows for the hembar to beposition independent so that it is able to freely move irrespective ofthe position of its opposite end, enabling surfaces of irregular shapesto be covered more easily. The system reduces the load on the wheels andadditionally reduces the friction experienced by the wheel connectingdevices. The reduction of load and friction decreases the overall wearand tear on the wheel carriage assembly, which in turn saves costs byreducing the number of parts that may need to be replaced.

In various embodiments, an exemplary fabric deployment system (e.g., awindow shading system or the like) comprises one or more wheel carriageassemblies suitable for coupling to a hembar. The wheel carriageassemblies may be configured with wheels with ball bearings on theinterior that maintain contact with a wheel connecting device. Thisconfiguration keeps the device in rotational friction with the wheelrather than sliding friction, and reduces the amount of wear on thewheels and the wheel connecting device. While the disclosure may bedescribed in association with a window shading system, one skilled inthe art will appreciate that similar components, systems, methods andadvantages may be used with other systems that benefit from wheelcarriage assemblies.

Further, an exemplary fabric deployment system is configured to reducethe load on certain wheels in the wheel carriage assembly. Thisconfiguration allows a choice of wheels to receive more wear than othersby placing the hembar and pivot point closer or further from specificwheels. In various embodiments, the hembar and pivot point are locatedequidistant from each wheel. Such a location helps to spread the weightevenly (or similar) between all wheels present in the system, and causesthe wheels to wear at a same (or similar) rate.

With reference now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in various embodiments, a fabricdeployment system 100 comprises at least one wheel carriage assembly 110disposable at least partially within a guide track 180. The wheelcarriage assembly 110 comprises at least one wheel 120, with variousembodiments having multiple wheels 120. Wheel carriage assembly 110 isconfigured to couple to a hembar 140 at a pivot point 160. A guide track180 is configured to at least partially contain wheel carriage assembly110, thus directing a path along which the hembar 140 may travel. Guidetrack 180 is configured to at least partially receive the wheel carriageassembly 110 in order to facilitate movement of hembar 140 betweenvarious desired locations.

With reference now to FIG. 1C, in various embodiments, a fabricdeployment system 100 may utilize a pair of wheel carriage assemblies110 to guide deployment and retraction of shade fabric with respect toan associated area. The hembar 140 may be coupled to the end of a lengthof fabric 145. Each end of the hembar 140 may be coupled to a wheelcarriage assembly 110 that is housed within a guide track 180. The guidetracks 180 may travel any length and any direction for covering thedesired surface. For example, guide tracks 180 may be disposed in aparallel manner (i.e., for a rectangular window). Moreover, guide tracks180 may be disposed at an angle with respect to one another. Forexample, for use in connection with a telescoping hembar 140 to shade awindow that is narrower at the top than the bottom (or vice versa) (forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 1A). The hembar 140 may be expandable,allowing the opposing guide tracks 180 to traverse a path in a directionaway from one another while still coupled to the same hembar 140. Invarious embodiments, the fabric 145 may have a fixed width or the widthof the fabric 145 may vary. The combination of an expandable/telescopinghembar 140 and fabric 145 with a varying width allows for surfaces ofvarying shape to be covered by the fabric 145.

System 100 may be utilized for shading of vertical surfaces, horizontalsurfaces, angled surfaces, and/or combinations thereof (i.e., surfaceshaving both horizontal and vertical angles other than 0 degrees or 90degrees). Use of system 100 helps to facilitate wheels 120 remaining in(at least partial or full) contact with guide track 180, regardless ofthe orientation of system 100 in three-dimensional space, ensuringsmooth deployment and retraction of an associated shade, regardless oforientation.

In various embodiments, a single fabric deployment system 100 may beutilized in connection with a single area or multiple fabric deploymentsystems 100 may be utilized in connection with a single area. Forexample, two fabric deployment systems 100 can be used, one in front ofthe other, such as to employ a black out shade in addition to a regularshade over a window area.

With reference now to FIG. 2, in various embodiments, a view of a windowshading system 100 is shown having multiple wheels 120, a hembar 140,and a guide track 180 having a generally rectangular interior spacetherein. In various embodiments, the wheels 120 are in physical contactwith opposite interior corners of the guide track 180. Moreover, invarious embodiments, the wheels 120 may be in physical contact with twoor more sides of the guide track 180. Moreover, a wheel 120 may be incontact with two or more interior sides of guide track 180, for exampleportions of interior sides adjacent an interior corner of guide track180. In various embodiments, one wheel 120 may be used that is kept inphysical contact with a surface or surfaces inside of the guide track180.

Turning now to FIG. 3, depicting a view along section A-A shown in FIG.2, in various embodiments, a window shading system 100 may be configuredwith multiple wheels 120 connected by a wheel connector 130. Wheelconnector 130 may be configured to couple to a hembar 140 at a pivotpoint 160. In various embodiments, the hembar 140 may couple to thewheel connector 130 in a location generally equidistant from each wheel120. Moreover, in various embodiments, with momentary reference to FIG.1D, the hembar 140 may connect to the wheel connector 130 in a locationcloser to one or more wheels 120 than the remaining wheels 120. Thewheel connector 130 may be in any shape or configuration that allows thewheels 120 to remain at a fixed distance from the other wheels 120. Incertain embodiments, a wheel connector 130 may not be utilized.

FIG. 4 depicts a view along section B-B shown in FIG. 3 of a windowshading assembly 100. The hembar 140 may be coupled to a wheel connector130 at a pivot point 160. In various embodiments, the pivot point 160allows the hembar 140 to move at a range of angles, for example along avertical axis when window shading assembly 100 is utilized in connectionwith a vertical window. In various embodiments, the pivot point 160allows the hembar 140 to move at a range of angles along the horizontalaxis, for example when window shading assembly 100 is utilized inconnection with a skylight. In various embodiments, pivot point 160allows hembar 140 a range of motion in a direction or number ofdirections.

Turning now to FIG. 5A that depicts a view along section C-C from FIG.3, in various embodiments, wheels 120 comprise ball bearings 150 in theinterior of each wheel 120. With momentary reference to FIG. 5B, a wheelconnecting device having ends at 125 and 126 maintains contact with theball bearings 150 in FIG. 5A. The connection of the ball bearings 150with the wheel connecting device allows the wheel connecting device tobe subject to rotational friction instead of sliding friction,facilitating easier movement of window shading assembly 100.

Returning to FIG. 5B, in various embodiments, a wheel carriage assembly100 comprises at least one wheel 120, a wheel connector 130, a hembar140, and a pivot point 160. At least one wheel 120 may be coupled to awheel connector 130 through use of a wheel connecting device that has abottom end 125 and a top end 126. The wheel connecting device havingends 125, 126 may be a pin, a screw, a bolt, a dowel rod, or any othersuitable connecting device. The pivot point 160 may be coupled to thewheel connector 130 in a manner that locates the pivot point outside ofthe guide track 180. The pivot point 160 may be located inside the guidetrack 180. In this manner, undesirable contact between hembar 140 andguide track 180 may be reduced.

While the steps outlined herein represent embodiments of principles ofthe present disclosure, practitioners will appreciate that there are avariety of physical structures and interrelated components that may beapplied to create similar results. The steps are presented for the sakeof explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent disclosure in any way. Benefits, other advantages, and solutionsto problems have been described herein with regard to specificembodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems,and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution tooccur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical,required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.

Exemplary systems and methods are disclosed. In the detailed descriptionherein, references to “various embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “anembodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodimentdescribed may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrasesare not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic is described inconnection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within theknowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure,or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or notexplicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparentto one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement principles of thedisclosure in alternative embodiments.

It should be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, indicating embodiments, are given for purposes of illustrationonly and not as limitations. Many changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit thereof, and principles of the presentdisclosure include all such modifications. Corresponding structures,materials, acts, and equivalents of all elements are intended to includeany structure, material, or acts for performing the functions incombination with other elements. Reference to an element in the singularis not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated,but rather “one or more.” Moreover, when a phrase similar to “at leastone of A, B, or C” or “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in theclaims or the specification, the phrase is intended to mean any of thefollowing: (1) at least one of A; (2) at least one of B; (3) at leastone of C; (4) at least one of A and at least one of B; (5) at least oneof B and at least one of C; (6) at least one of A and at least one of C;or (7) at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fabric deployment system, comprising: a wheelcarriage assembly having a first wheel and a second wheel; a hembarbeing configured to move about a pivot point to maintain a horizontalorientation; the pivot point directly coupling the wheel carriageassembly to the hembar; the first wheel having a first axis of rotationat a non-parallel angle and non-perpendicular angle with respect to thehembar; and the second wheel having a second axis of rotation at anon-parallel angle and a non-perpendicular angle with respect to thehembar, wherein the first axis of the rotation of the first wheel andthe second axis of the rotation of the second wheel are offset from oneanother.
 2. The fabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein the hembarcomprises a first portion, and a second portion, wherein the firstportion is coupled to a fabric, and wherein the first portion receivesthe second portion such that the hembar is expandable by translating thesecond portion away from the first portion.
 3. The fabric deploymentsystem of claim 1, wherein the pivot point is configured to be locatedinside a guide track.
 4. The fabric deployment system of claim 1,wherein the first wheel is configured to interface with a guide trackwhile the second wheel is set away from interfacing the guide track. 5.The fabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein the pivot point isremovably coupled to the hembar.
 6. The fabric deployment system ofclaim 1, wherein the wheel carriage assembly further comprises a wheelconnector, and wherein the hembar couples to the wheel connector at aplace equidistant from the first wheel, the second wheel, a third wheeland a fourth wheel.
 7. The fabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein:the wheel carriage assembly is configured with the first wheel, thesecond wheel, a third wheel and a fourth wheel, and responsive to thehembar moving the fabric, at least two of the first wheel, the secondwheel, the third wheel or the fourth wheel of the wheel carriageassembly at least partially contact a guide track, without regard to anorientation of the guide track.
 8. The fabric deployment system of claim1, further comprising: a third wheel on the second end, wherein thethird wheel has a third axis of rotation at a non-parallel angle andnon-perpendicular angle with respect to the hembar; and a fourth wheelon the second end, wherein the fourth wheel has a fourth axis ofrotation at a non-parallel angle and a non-perpendicular angle withrespect to the hembar, wherein the third axis of the rotation of thethird wheel and the fourth axis of the rotation of the fourth wheel areoffset from one another.
 9. The fabric deployment system of claim 1,further comprising a guide track, wherein the guide track includes afirst guide track and a second guide track, and wherein the first guidetrack is at an angle other than 0 degrees or 90 degrees with respect tothe second guide track.
 10. The fabric deployment system of claim 1,wherein the hembar moves in and out with respect to the wheel carriageassembly.
 11. The fabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein the firstwheel is configured to contact two sides of a guide track.
 12. Thefabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein the wheel carriage assemblycomprises at least the first wheel and the second wheel, wherein thewheel carriage assembly further comprises a wheel connector, and whereinthe hembar couples to the wheel connector at a location closer to thefirst wheel than the second wheel.
 13. The fabric deployment system ofclaim 1, wherein the pivot point is configured to be located outside ofa guide track.
 14. The fabric deployment system of claim 1, wherein thehembar connects to the wheel carriage assembly closer to the first wheelthan the second wheel.
 15. The fabric deployment system of claim 1,wherein the first end of the hembar freely moves about the pivot point,irrespective of a position of the second end of the hembar.
 16. Thefabric deployment system of claim 1, further comprising a guide track,wherein the guide track includes a first guide track interfacing withthe first end of the hembar and a second guide track interfacing withthe second end of the hembar, and wherein the first guide track is notparallel to the second guide track.
 17. The fabric deployment system ofclaim 1, wherein the first wheel further comprises ball bearings withinan interior of the first wheel.
 18. The fabric deployment system ofclaim 1, wherein the wheel carriage assembly maintains rotationalfriction with the first wheel, and reduces sliding friction with thefirst wheel.
 19. A fabric deployment system, comprising: a wheelcarriage assembly having a first wheel and a second wheel; a hembarbeing configured to move about a pivot point to maintain a horizontalorientation; the pivot point directly coupling the wheel carriageassembly to the hembar; and the first wheel and the second wheel areconfigured to interface with opposite interior corners of a guide track.20. A method for moving a fabric deployment system, comprising: moving ahembar about a pivot point to maintain a horizontal orientation, whereinthe pivot point directly couples a wheel carriage assembly to thehembar, and wherein the wheel carriage assembly comprises a first wheeland a second wheel; in response to moving the hembar, causing the firstwheel to move about a first axis of rotation at a non-parallel angle andnon-perpendicular angle with respect to the hembar; and in response tomoving the hembar, causing the second wheel to move about a second axisof rotation at a non-parallel angle and a non-perpendicular angle withrespect to the hembar, wherein the first axis of the rotation of thefirst wheel and the second axis of the rotation of the second wheel areoffset from one another.